Hitachi has announced that it will develop and manufacturer electric vehicle motors in the United States.
For those that don’t know, Hitachi is a Japanese multinational conglomerate and is one of the world’s largest public companies.
In a press release, Hitachi has confirmed that it will develop and produce electric vehicle motors through it’s the newly established Hitachi Automotive Electric Motor Systems America company. This company will use existing office and manufacturer facilities in the city of Berea in Kentucky that are currently owned by Hitachi Automotive Systems.
This facility occupies an area of 259,646 square-meters and is expected to commence production in 2022, “dependent on the effects of Covid 19,” the company said in a statement.
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“The establishment of this new company will further strengthen Hitachi Automotive Electric Motor Systems’ business foundation in the expanding electric vehicle market and respond to growing demand for electric vehicle motors in the USA,” Hitachi added.
Full details about Hitachi’s plans remain under wraps. For example, it is unclear if it will partner with automotive manufacturers to build electric vehicle motors for them or if it will instead build the motors exclusively for the aftermarket. It is also unclear if the motors will be best suited to compact city cars or performance EVs, for example.
Hitachi isn’t the only Japanese company looking to cash-in on growing demand for electric vehicles. Earlier this year, Yamaha unveiled an electric motor it has developed for various vehicles, including motorcycles and cars. This motor can produce up to 270 hp or can be restricted to as little as 47 hp for use in electric scooters.
Yamaha’s electric motor